Chicago Marathon, October 12, 2008                                                   

The Chicago Marathon course is known as being very flat and very fast. It has produced several world records over the years. It is also one of the largest marathons with 30,000+ runners. This was my first try at the course and also Team McGraw's first Chicago Marathon. Running and coaching Team McGraw added an additional element of excitement, motivation and celebration to the weekend. We had a great Welcome Luncheon on Saturday where everyone gets to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. It is typically a very uplifting, emotional time where everyone introduces themselves and shares their reasons for running with the Tug McGraw Foundation. The post-race Victory Party was a great celebration right down the street from Wrigley Field.

10 Day Forecast

I had been monitoring the weather forecast for two weeks. Ideal marathon weather is in the 40 - 55 degree range. Ten days out the temp range was low of 45 and a high of 65. As each day passed the predicted temperature inched up towards hot. When we woke up on race morning it was 65 degrees, humid with an high expected to reach 80. A great day for tourists and spectators. Not so good for marathoners. I went to Chicago with a PR in mind. My training had gone well, I had trained in the Memphis heat all summer and the flat course was too tempting. I decided to stick to my plan and hope that the heat did not get to me before the finish. It was a calculated risk/reward gamble.

Marathon

The Marathon is extremely well organized. It starts and finishes in Grant Park with the city skyline on one side and Lake Michigan on the other. We met for our Team picture at 6:45 and then scattered to find our respective bag check tents and start corrals. It was very easy to get through the chaos of the Park and I was in my corral by 7:40. Twenty minutes to relax and stretch. The race started on time and I crossed the starting line within 45 seconds so we were able to get up to our race pace right away. The crowds were huge in the opening miles as we worked our way through downtown towards the Wrigley Field neighborhood. I felt great from the start. I was able to get on my goal pace right away and it felt very easy. It did not feel too warm yet so I decided to keep rolling. I noticed that I was in between two pace groups with 3:10 signs. I was aiming to break 3:15 so I settled in and relaxed. Around 3 miles I found myself next to Jason from Florida. I knew his name because he had written it on his chest and I must have heard it screamed out 200 times. We quickly discovered our matching race goals and decided to keep each other on pace. We ran side-by-side until mile 21.

What Happened To The Shade?

The course is flat and fast as advertised. The crowds were huge and the weather was perfect... for the spectators. I rolled through halfway in 1:36.

(Internal self-assessment: "Hmmm... that felt kinda easy. I do not feel hot yet... we are still shaded from the sun... let's keep pushing")

Somewhere around mile 18 the shade runs out. It near mile 20 that I noticed that there were no clouds in the sky and it was getting warm. By mile 21 I realized it was hot. I also had the first very subtle twinge of a cramp in my right quad. It was light, like someone gently tapping you on the leg. I know this warning sign well.

(Internal self-assessment: " hmmm... that is not a good sign. Should I back off and take it easy? I can run in relaxed and have a decent finish time. Or should I keep pushing? I did not come to Chicago to just finish. I have come this far... no risk no reward... let's keep pushing and see what happens")

My pace was slowing but I still had my eyes on breaking 3:15. Mile 22 brought some more gentle twinges... right quad, right calf, left calf. My pace slowed further but I was still running. I wondered how long I could hold off the cramps. How long could I hold off the inevitable. I could lose a few minutes over the next 4 miles or an hour. Mile 23 was lonely. Jason had pulled away at mile 22. I knew there was a beating coming my way I just did not know exactly when or how bad it would be. There would be no speeding up so my new goal was finishing under 3:20. The amount of math going on in the final miles of a marathon is amazing.

The Beating

The fun really started just before mile 24. From the sidewalk I am sure it was quite a scene. I had my last energy gel packet in my right hand. I was preparing to tear it open and wash it down at the next water station. My right hamstring went into full cramp mode. It happened so suddenly that in one split second I let out a high-pitched yelp and as I reached to grab the back of my leg that final energy gel went flying through the air. I am sure that a slow motion replay would be great YouTube viewing. It landed a few yards behind me. It might as well have been in the sewer because I was not going back for it nor could I have reached the ground to retrieve it. I punched and massaged my hamstring in hopes of loosening it. I was able to walk after a few seconds and kept moving. After a few minutes I started running again.

(Internal self-assessment: "Cramps really HURT. I have 1.5 miles to go and if I cannot keep these cramps under control I might be on the curb. Wish I had that gel packet.")

The Finish

Mile 25 got... fuzzy. Not warm and inviting. Fuzzy like blurry static. I was moving along at my survival pace when I had a moment of dizziness and took a stride... sideways.

(Internal self-assessment: "Oh ****")

I caught myself and realized I was in danger of making the "agony of defeat" footage staggering from curb to curb. I was intent on moving forward and staying upright. I could see the trees of Grant Park just in the distance. There was no more math. There was only survival mode. Get to the finish and then you can stop. Somehow I managed to trot the final ¼ mile. There was no glorious kick down the finish stretch but I do remember huge crowds and lots of energy. I made it to the line in 3:23:18. Missed my goal but still managed to salvage a Boston qualifying time. I felt bad for a few hours afterward. I made two trips to the medical tent after nearly passing out a few times. I kept hydrating and about 3 hours later the fog lifted and I felt fine. I was able to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather in Grant Park as we celebrated each Team McGraw member's arrival.

I want another crack at this great course on a cloudy 45 degree day. It is a great marathon in a great city.

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